CLAVERIA, Cagayan -– The employees of the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 2 (DA-BFAR R02) will showcase what they learned after the month-long Training on Milkfish and Siganids Hatchery Operation and Management at DA-BFAR National Fisheries Development Center (NFDC) in Bonuan, Binloc, Dagupan City.

It is also meant as a way to boost the fisheries production, particularly in the aquaculture sector.

The BFAR in region 2 is optimistic that the production of hatchery-bred high-value fish species will increase with the help of the six employees of DA-BFAR R02 assigned at Cagayan Valley Marine Technology Outreach Station (CVMTOS) in Taggat Norte, Claveria Cagayan.

The six finished the month-long training on milkfish and siganids hatchery operation and management.

The training which was held from July 12 to August 10, 2022, featured lectures and hands-on activities.

It was a collaborative effort of DA-BFAR R02 and BFAR-NFDC to start up the operation of the newly established hatchery in CVMTOS, wherein the latter provided training facilities and technical experts as trainers.

Dr. Dennis Tanay, BFAR-NFDC Chief, emphasized how eager he was to teach the trainees.

“All of the secrets on milkfish and siganids hatchery operation and management will be learned and will no longer be secrets once the training ends,” he said.

He believed these learnings will be of great help for the development of the fisheries sector in region 2 to boost the fisheries production.

During the month-long training, trainees learned the knowledge and skills on the operation and management of hatcheries which included broodstock management, feed formulation and feeding management, natural food production, egg collection and stocking, larval rearing among others.

The trainees received their certificates of completion during the graduation ceremony.

All of them were challenged to apply their technical expertise in their station once they returned.

Meanwhile, Cordelia B. Nipales, Supervising Aquaculturist and Head of Production Section of BFAR-NFDC, encouraged trainees to feel free to contact them.

Nipales is expecting there will be more produce in siganids and milkfish .

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Aeron D. Mayor, DA-BFAR R02-Cagayan Valley Marine Technology Outreach Station (CVMTOS)) Head, the training capacitated their technical staff to jumpstart the operation of the newly established hatchery in CVMTOS.

Aside from mullet species like Ludong, the hatchery will be used for breeding and production of other high value species such as siganids and milkfish, said BFAR.